Western Region Academy of Sport

Training day one- Sun

7.30am wakeup call which I liked, it was later than usual for me. we had a good breakfast before training. We got in the uses and took the short trip through the town to the training stadium.  Training was intense which I liked as it forced us to work harder and become better athletes.  All three sessions we were good, I learnt a lot from the first day of training and am excited for the rest of the week’s sessions.  

We tried to go to the beach but it was closed due to the oil spill from the container ship that split in half that morning.  At night we chilled out after a hard day of training talking and getting to know the Bay of Plenty girls even more.  In the first few days I have made new friends I feel we will be even closer by the end of the week.

Charlotte J

Saturday night was the first night at the marae. I don’t think any of us really knew what to expect.
We arrived to Jodi Todd greeting us and the Bay of Plenty girls. Jodi explained the main rules of the Marae, she told us we couldn’t wear our shoes inside the Marae or eat and above all else we had to respect.

We unpacked our bus and got our first look at where we were sleeping. 31 girls from WRAS and BOP had to sleep side by side on single mattresses with a small spot at the end of the beds for our suitcases. We were meant to be welcomed on to the Marae by the elders in a traditional welcoming ceremony but they had to leave early so we missed out. We spent the rest of the night playing cards and talking with the Bay girls, getting to know each other as we were going to be spending the next week living together.

I was very tired from the flight over and travelling many of us were also nervous about our next day, our first training day. We were showered and in bed by 9pm.

Rebecca C

Arrival- Sat

We got off the plane like famous people down the stairs onto the runway. We thought we saw a famous person, not really sure who he was or why he was famous we found out he had a camera and was filming for a travel reality show. When we got into the airport before customs there was a lady with a guitar singing and a man from the plane joining in with her. We were greeted by two Bay of Plenty ladies as we walked through the terminal. As we walked outside we got a woof of rotten eggs (this is actually what NZ smells like). 

We got on the bus and took a 45 min drive from Rotorua to the Marae in Mt Maunganui.  

Georgia D

Pre- flight and flight- Sat
We rocked up 40 mins late to the airport because we were locked into the hotel we were staying at. We went to go check in and I was told I could only take one bag, I had to take 2 kilos out of my small bag and put it into my bigger bag then I had to use that as my carry on so I had to give everyone my clothes so I could get on the plane with all my luggage. I was feeling horrible by this stage and was a bit upset.
I made it onto the plane and we took off. The flight attendants randomly picked Zoe and me to be flight attendants towards the end of the flight and hand out lollies to the other passengers. That made me really happy and I forgot all that happened in the morning.
Lucy

Day before flight- The cricket

Well, to be honest, I wasn’t that excited about leaving Australia. It didn’t really feel as if it will happen but it did. I spent my last day at the SCG watching Australia demolish the Indian cricket team. Ricky Ponting waved at me which made my day. It was a pretty significant match as it was the 100^th test match Australia played against India with the possibility of Tendulkar getting his hundredth hundred. The crowd was pumped and cheered every time he hit a four but was disappointed to see him get out for only 80 runs.

I felt upset as the day was coming to an end because I knew how much I’d miss my mum and family. I shed a few tears before bed either because I would miss Australia or because I had to get up at 5am in the morning.

Ellie

On Sunday the WRAS netball squad flew to New Zealand for the 8^th annual netball Bay of Plenty camp at Mt Maunganui in Tauranga. Having hosted the camp last January it was WRAS turn to fly to New Zealand and experience all that New Zealand has to offer.

 The day started early for the WRAS girls as they begun the3 hour flight from Sydney to Rotorua. During the flight Zoe and Lucy played hostess and handed out lollies to the passengers while Leah and Lauren were convinced they saw someone famous. It was an eventful flight for some who had never flown before.

We arrived in Rotorua and headed to the marae- Matapihi where we will be staying for the remainder of the week. The girls will participate in specialist training sessions run by coaches from the Bay of Plenty and our own coaches from WRAS. The girls with have the opportunity to experience some of the New Zealand culture as they head to Rotorua on Tuesday for sightseeing.

The camp will end on Thursday with a tournament between WRAS and the Bay of Plenty girls. The Bay of Plenty won last year in Australia the girls are hopeful they can come back stronger this year and win.

The Western Region Academy of Sport this week celebrated their 20^th Birthday at Charles Sturt University, Bathurst. Board members, athletes, parents and special guests joined in the festivities that recognized both the past and present achievements of WRAS.

As well as the celebration of the Academy’s 20^th birthday, Norm Mann was awarded life membership in recognition of his contribution to WRAS as a member of the board between 2000 and 2007, which included being chairman from 2001-2007. He now joins Len Graff and Peter Cole to become the 3^rd life member of WRAS.

Certificates were also given to 2011 graduate athletes, whilst CSU squad athletes of the year awards were received by Joshua Carpenter (Golf) and Charlotte Jasprizza (Netball).

The occasion also marked the 3000^th athlete to be awarded a WRAS scholarship with Lithgow hockey athlete Jessie Luchetti being acknowledged for her inclusion into the Academy’s hockey squad.